One of the most common questions any pediatrician gets is: “How can I help my baby sleep better?” The answer is so complex and specific to the baby, parents, family, and culture that I hesitate to even write about baby sleep! It just isn\u2019t a one-size-fits-all thing.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve had 3 very different sleepers. The first \u2013 shall we call him devil baby? \u2013 cried ALL the time. He needed to be held, rocked, and walked. His dad and I were constantly exhausted. Baby number two was a great sleeper: feed her and she slept, easy-peasy \u2013 that is, until I went back to work when she was about 4 months old. Then she decided to sleep all day and nurse all night. Number three was a dream. From the very beginning, and to this day, he wanted his own space to snuggle up and go to sleep on his own. No complicated routine \u2013 just put him down and walk away. They don\u2019t make many babies like him!<\/p>\n
To answer that question about your baby\u2019s sleep, it may help to know some basics about sleep and the options for helping your child \u2013 then you choose a path that fits your family.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s right \u2013 it\u2019s normal for babies to wake up throughout the night. In fact, it may help to think of infant sleep as a series of little naps. The trick is to help your child learn how to put themselves back to sleep when they wake up after one of those “naps.” And that can be hard if all they know about falling asleep is having you feed or rock them. They associate you with going to sleep, so when they wake up, they cry for you to soothe them back to sleep.<\/p>\n
You want to increase your baby\u2019s ability to “self-soothe” and decrease how much they need you to soothe them. This can only come if you:<\/p>\n
One word about safety \u2013 babies should sleep alone, on their back in\u00a0a safe, boring crib<\/a>. I loved snuggling babies in my bed as much as any mother but \u2013 I have also seen the tragedies that can come from co-sleeping or face down sleeping. I don\u2019t want to see them again. Please enjoy feeding your baby and holding them in your bed \u2013 but when the time comes for sleep, lay them face up in their crib.<\/p>\n With my first child, I never felt able to let him “cry it out,” but with the second, I ended up using that method almost without meaning to. One night after putting her down, I was giving her older brother a bath when she started crying. Of course, I couldn\u2019t leave him alone in the tub, so she cried while we played. Then, after a bit, I realized all was quiet \u2013 she had fallen asleep \u2013 and slept through the night!<\/p>\n Whatever method you choose to help your baby sleep, know that you\u2019re not alone \u2013 getting babies to sleep is hard and parenting is exhausting! Remember, you\u2019re doing the best you can every day.<\/p>\n Resources for parents<\/strong>
\nPediatric Sleep Council<\/a><\/p>\n